Sewer Rollercoaster

I have resisted the call of the political Sirens, beckoning me to join in their muddy skirmishes. I received an email the other day from the Republican Party asking if I had abandoned them as I have not contributed for quite awhile.
I'm not going to promise money I don't have to people who don't deserve it for objectives
they have proven to be incapable of winning.
Reading today's headlines, there is so much turmoil and political garbage that I dare not sully my soul by 'getting political'. I refuse to ride on the political sewer rollercoaster.
As Pogo famously said, "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
My nation, right or wrong, is still my nation. My President, right or wrong, is still my President.
Today I read that some believe that President Obama is 'begging to be impeached' now so as to energize his political base before the mid-term elections.
That sounds crazy to me. That is an example of how nuts politics is right now.
I'm not smart enough to follow all of those twisty turns.
So, what do I do?
Trust in God Who is above all nations and presidents and kings and political parties.
President Obama's Day will pass just as it did for each of his predecessors. Whether he should be impeached is not for me to decide. If he hopes to gin up his base by suggesting that 'mean evil Republicans' are trying to run him out of office, he will do so without any help from me.

Vacation In Lovely _________!

SEE PARIS THIS SUMMER! OR PERHAPS LONDON?

Don't know if you've been following the Outrage season, but their All Star Game
was held in Paris and London this week; sad to say, the host cities probably won't
invite them back for the foreseeable.
Amazingly, the consensus  for the 66th year in a row is: Israel BAD. As in, "How DARE Israel defend itself when under rocket attacks? How DARE Israel act like it has a right to exist!?!
News flash, Outrage enthusiasts: Israel exists.
Be a good Global neighbor and accept Reality instead of indulging in your fever dreams.
You'll be happier, and so will I.

Not Red Headed, But...

'Ginger' was born Virginia Katherine McMath 103 (or so) years ago in Missouri. Just noted on the TCM site that tomorrow is her birthday, which is reason enough to post about her again.
Some "Stars" in movies or related fields are all flash and image.
Ginger had the image, plenty of flash, but was also exceptionally skilled in various arts. Comedy, drama, dancing, singing...playing heroes and sometimes even a villain-Ginger was always eminently watchable. I've never seen her deliver a bad performance; she is one of the few professionals who always did more than expected, as if she were working at a higher level.
Happy birthday, Ginger!
Some of her best movies to seek out:
The Major and the Minor
Vivacious Lady
Having Wonderful Time
All of the Fred and Ginger musicals.

Apprehending the Unapprehendible

The sign said "Snipe Country" but I wasn't a Snipe-I was behind enemy lines- a deck hand
infiltrating the boundary set by the engineers who proudly called themselves "Snipes".
These dogs were NOT taking 'selfies'. They were interacting with their owner holding a camera.
So what what's is what, Doug?
Simply this: living by faith instead of sight, trusting God makes it possible for us to continue to sing Praises to God.
If we were to look at the world with godless eyes, judging everything we see and understand by our own limited understanding...this would be a horrible existence. Wars and hatred and killing and everyone failing.
In part, that is why the Liberals are always complaining about everything-as most of them do not believe in God, the world they see is ugly grim.
Those few of them who pretend to pay lip service to the idea of believing that God exists join the rest of their heedless herd in living as if God doesn't exist.
Anyone seeing the first picture would assume that the person in it was a Snipe. Wrong.
The dogs picture is funny. Why include it here?
Obviously, we know that dogs can't take pictures of themselves, but because it looks as if they are posing, it makes us laugh.
A picture...which we know isn't true...elicits an emotional response.
Those who would capture your emotions to hold you in bondage to their 'point of view' will use faked images to fool you.
Why does it work?
Because people who live by WHAT THEY SEE, trusting in their own limited understanding can be fooled by fakery. Especially if it elicits an emotional response. Images are powerful. Music is powerful. Our assumption that we are too smart to fall for a lie is powerful. It isn't about smarts-if your emotions are engaged, smarts and logic and reason don't enter into the equation.
Christians should be the ones living by faith. We have all kinds of warnings in Scripture to trust in God rather than ourselves. But we are human and we get fooled, too...on this side of Eternity.
Thank God that in Heaven we will live lives unimpeded by any dishonesty or lies, and our emotions will be engaged honestly to Worship God in spirit and in truth and in person.

May God richly Bless you today.

Cling To What Is Good

Romans 12:9-21 (HCSB)
9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16 Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.
19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.
20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.
21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

We recognize that we are all human; we make mistakes, we fail. Life is often painful, even for God’s children. Sometimes because of God’s children, imperfect till Heaven.
When someone has hurt us, we focus on the pain, and our human nature may incite us to be hurtful back,
Which is how wars begin and families can end.
In these verses Paul is giving a ‘prescription’ for how to heal a hurting Christian and a hurting church:
Love must be without hypocrisy. We are called always to be honest and true in our dealings with God and each other. An honest, “I can’t even look at you right now.” is better than hugging someone you would rather punch.
Detest evil. We KNOW that we are supposed to forgive each other; we know that it is evil to hold on to a grievance, carry a grudge. It may be the hardest thing in the world for us to do, but with God’s help and in His Spirit…we can forgive and mean it.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. This becomes easier with practice.
If you look at your offending brother as someone in need of prayer, help and forgiveness rather than as someone hateful, know that you are looking at him as God does.
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. Just as Christ did, setting an example for us all.
Satan is happiest when Christians are at odds and hating one another.
“They will know we are Christians by our love.”

So, How Was Your Week?

No, I'm not claiming to have been struck by lightning. Singed a little by human nature, but I'll get by.
I had a friend who lived to tell his story. David was 6'5'', standing on a lakeshore, holding a long metal fishing pole over his head when he suddenly dropped to his knees. Lightning had traversed the pole, run through David and the only damage: the heel of his tennis shoe had a hole burned through.
This week hasn't quite risen to that level, but I will say this: there is no such thing as luck. Or karma.
God sets the number of our days, and David has (hopefully) many more ahead of him.
I also hope to  keep chugging along, living for God here until I live with God there. There are many
troubles/cataclysms/catastrophes on this side of the grave; for the Christian, absolutely NONE
on the other. Remembering that makes it a bit easier to carry on. Praise God for his loving-kindness. 

Obama Said WHAT???

Just kidding-these were soccer fans watching the USA get beat. No one is shocked by the stupidity
coming out of the president's mouth anymore.